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Mikel Arteta — page 2

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Mikel Arteta says penalty given to Sunderland ‘unacceptable at this level’

Arsenal manager angry: ‘This can never be a penalty’ ‘It’s a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri does nothing’ Mikel Arteta’s delight at Arsenal’s latest win was tempered by his fury with the referee John Brooks as the champions triumphed 2-0 at Sunderland on Saturday night. Before Bruno Guimarães gave Arsenal the lead in a tight match that Régis Le Bris’s team were arguably unlucky to lose, David Raya made a brilliant save to deny Enzo Le Fée from the penalty spot. Arteta, however, did not believe that Ezri Konsa had hauled Dan Ballard to the ground, instead blaming the Sunderland man for pulling down his opponent. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light12 Sept

Mikel Arteta says penalty given to Sunderland ‘unacceptable at this level’

Arsenal manager angry: ‘This can never be a penalty’ ‘It’s a judo roll from the opponent. Ezri does nothing’ Mikel Arteta’s delight at Arsenal’s latest win was tempered by his fury with the referee John Brooks as the champions triumphed 2-0 at Sunderland on Saturday night. Before Bruno Guimarães gave Arsenal the lead in a tight match that Régis Le Bris’s team were arguably unlucky to lose, David Raya made a brilliant save to deny Enzo Le Fée from the penalty spot. Arteta, however, did not believe that Ezri Konsa had hauled Dan Ballard to the ground, instead blaming the Sunderland man for pulling down his opponent. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Louise Taylor at the Stadium of Light12 Sept

Ballon d’Or shortlist shows up Premier League’s attacking failings – but tide could be turning

English top flight’s forwards are not well represented on the list, reflecting a season of set-piece grapple, but 2026-27 already looks brighter Premier League representation is low when it comes to the 16 attacking players on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist . Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are there but Cole Palmer, one of the nominees in 2025, is out after an injury-hit year and English football’s shift towards physicality and set pieces last season is summed up by none of the forwards from the best team in the country making the cut. The trio giving Arsenal a presence – Gabriel Maghalhães, Declan Rice and William Saliba – are all defensive minded. Arsenal won the league but their forwards are not regarded as elite. Injuries played a part, denying Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka fluency, but Mikel Arteta’s side were not loved by neutrals. There was respect rather than admiration for their defensive rigour. There was an argument that a lack of ambition after going 1-0 up stopped Arsenal from beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Jacob Steinberg11 Sept

Ballon d’Or shortlist shows up Premier League’s attacking failings – but tide could be turning

English top flight’s forwards are not well represented on the list, reflecting a season of set-piece grapple, but 2026-27 already looks brighter Premier League representation is low when it comes to the 16 attacking players on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist . Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are there but Cole Palmer, one of the nominees in 2025, is out after an injury-hit year and English football’s shift towards physicality and set pieces last season is summed up by none of the forwards from the best team in the country making the cut. The trio giving Arsenal a presence – Gabriel Maghalhães, Declan Rice and William Saliba – are all defensive minded. Arsenal won the league but their forwards are not regarded as elite. Injuries played a part, denying Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka fluency, but Mikel Arteta’s side were not loved by neutrals. There was respect rather than admiration for their defensive rigour. There was an argument that a lack of ambition after going 1-0 up stopped Arsenal from beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Jacob Steinberg11 Sept

Football Daily | Mikel Arteta hits upon a new psychological wheeze for his champions

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! The use of psychological stratagems and pitchside or locker-room sabotage has long been employed by football managers trying to give their teams an edge over visiting rivals. Whether it’s placing the pegs too high or the seats too low, painting the walls an aggression-lowering shade of pink or deliberately moving the advertising hoardings to prevent long throws, there are apparently no stones conniving coaching staff will leave unturned if they think their team’s chances of winning may be improved by such shenanigans. Almost 40 years ago, Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang famously used to leave visitors to Plough Lane without any hot water, a plan that seemed stunning in its simplicity, until you realise – as Football Daily has just done after nearly 40 years – that footballers generally tend not to shower until after the game is over, rendering their attempt at disruption decidedly redundant. Thankfully Noble Francis has now won a book ( yesterday’s Football Daily letters ) so has something else to do other than writing prize-winning, witty missives. This means the rest of us mere mortals have a chance of winning your letter o’ the day” – Martyn Shapter. This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions . Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Barry Glendenning11 Sept

Football Daily | Mikel Arteta hits upon a new psychological wheeze for his champions

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! The use of psychological stratagems and pitchside or locker-room sabotage has long been employed by football managers trying to give their teams an edge over visiting rivals. Whether it’s placing the pegs too high or the seats too low, painting the walls an aggression-lowering shade of pink or deliberately moving the advertising hoardings to prevent long throws, there are apparently no stones conniving coaching staff will leave unturned if they think their team’s chances of winning may be improved by such shenanigans. Almost 40 years ago, Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang famously used to leave visitors to Plough Lane without any hot water, a plan that seemed stunning in its simplicity, until you realise – as Football Daily has just done after nearly 40 years – that footballers generally tend not to shower until after the game is over, rendering their attempt at disruption decidedly redundant. Thankfully Noble Francis has now won a book ( yesterday’s Football Daily letters ) so has something else to do other than writing prize-winning, witty missives. This means the rest of us mere mortals have a chance of winning your letter o’ the day” – Martyn Shapter. This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions . Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Barry Glendenning11 Sept